Essay on Violence Against Women Act of 1994

Essay on Violence Against Women Act of 1994

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For centuries domestic violence has been perceived as a private matter private of which the government has not been concerned about nor was it considered the government’s business to intervene on behalf of a battered spouse. The unlawful nature of this failure for state or federal government intervention against this crime contributed to the systematic abuse of women in the family. The traditions, customs, and common law found in both British and American societies continued right up until the last decade of the 20th century and left the battered wives and very frequently, her children, at the mercy of the husband. It wasn’t until the 1990’s when the government began to do something to protect mothers, wives, and lovers from intimate partner violence (Ball, 2002). The Violence against Women Act of 1994 (VAWA) provided a definite marker for both governmental and societal change in the United States. Intimate partner and domestic violence has been a part of our culture for hundreds of years. To gain a full understanding of domestic violence in our society and how it history has shaped the treatment of abuse today, it is important to learn about the historical progression of domestic violence.
During the founding of the American colonies English laws permitted wife beating through the incorporation of the Blackstonian concept of “subtle chastisement.” It was under this doctrine that husbands had the right to beat their wives and was limited only by the “same moderation that a man is allowed to correct his apprentices and children” (Ball, 2002). According to Dryden-Edwards MD (2012), British common law once allowed a man to "chastise" his wife with "any reasonable instrument.” In 1824, Mississippi became the first state to permit wi...

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... as a rights violation. This piece of legislation pulled out domestic violence from the shadows of the private sphere and into the light of the public sphere and recognized it as worthy of state action. According to Roleff (2000), “when it comes to family violence, most police officers do not make arrests, most persecutors do not press charges, and most judges do not impose tough enough sentences and the women and children at risk go unprotected.” American societies’ view of the private nature of domestic violence was changing and along with it came consequences for perpetrators of violence. These statements continue to hold true even in today’s society. We often regress into the historical tendency of viewing violence against women as intrinsically private and therefore undeserving of government attention, leaving millions of women and children in harm’s way.

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- Economic and Political Context Long before its enactment on September 13, 1994, the foundation for the Violence Against Women Act was being constructed. More than 140 years ago, members of the U.S. government were working to end the injustice of violence against women when, in 1871, Alabama was the first state to make it illegal for a man to beat his wife (U.S. Department of Justice, 2010). In 1967, one of the first domestic violence shelters in the country opened its doors in Maine; and from that time until 1994, progress slowly but steadily continued.... [tags: violence prevention, criminal justice]

- ... As stated before, violence against women is a major health problem. This problem has been around for a while and a worldwide public health issue that affects women and children lives (Garcia-Moreno, 2000). My campaign will focus on the North Carolina region. The problem of violence against women continues to exist because, the difference of culture and norms involving power and control of women (Garcia-Moreno, 2000). For example, in different cultures see violence as a right way for a man to exercise his authority.... [tags: Domestic violence, Violence against women, Rape]

- Domestic Violence comes in many different forms and methods, in response to the ever expanding ways that domestic violence cases are evolving the law has had to try and keep up with it. One of the victories advocates of domestic violence can claim is the many new laws to help protect the domestic violence victims. These laws range from giving harsher punishments to the perpetrator to giving out extended orders of protection. We even have new laws to help with the financial issues that come with a domestic violence case to try and help the victims go back to a stable life even after the perpetrator has been sentenced.... [tags: Domestic violence, Violence against women]

- Gender Violence Gender violence is an ongoing issue in the United States. This year alone there have been several highly publicized cases of sexual assault and domestic violence. A popular case that occurred recently depicted a Columbia University student, Emma Sulkowicz, who carried her mattress around campus every day to protest her rapists continued enrollment at the school (Brodsky and Deutsch). Emma brought her sexual assault to attention, but this was not the first time a sexual assault has occurred on a college campus or unfortunately the last.... [tags: Domestic violence, Violence against women]

- ... Families that are victimized by this crime are torn emotionally, and the victims will either isolate themselves or tend to cling together as a support system. Domestic violence is a crime that affects all race, nationality, sexual orientation and gender. It is also found in all walks of life including religion and socio economic status. Domestic Violence has also gained additional titles known as Spousal/ Partner Abuse or Intimate Partner Violence as again this crime affects Men, homosexual couples and their families.... [tags: Domestic violence, Violence against women]

- Policy Analysis Research Paper: Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Perla Jazmine Ruiz South Texas College SOCW 2362 Page Break Policy Analysis Research Paper: Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) I was a little confused about the topic/policy to choose for this assignment. I know that there are various types of policies which cover a range of topics. I decided that I wanted to cover either immigration or women. I decided that the policy I will be constructing my research paper over, will be the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).... [tags: Domestic violence, Violence, Child abuse]

- ... Poverty within the community, and low social capital results in lack of institutions and interaction among members; and weak community sanctions leads to lack of intervention from neighbors who witness the abuse (Buckley, Holt & Whelan, 2013). Therefore, family situation and the community environment, as well as the child 's own personality may either strengthen the child 's ability to cope with or increase the risk of harmful effects from witnessing domestic violence (Buckley, Holt & Whelan, 2013).... [tags: Domestic violence, Violence, Family therapy]

- Millions of women and children have died or have been severely injured because of domestic violence. Domestic violence is illegal and includes assault, rape, battery, and murder committed by someone to whom the victim is close to. This could be a relative, parent, child, spouse, or dating partner. Although both men and women can be abused, 85% victims are women. There are many causes of modern domestic violence, but most fall into four categories: sexual abuse, financial abuse, physical abuse, and emotional abuse.... [tags: Violence Against Women Essays]

- Violence Against Women How important is the issue of violence against women to the citizen of American. Many people simply do not understand the impact that it has on the female population in the United States. Although there are tons of other important concerns to focus on, this issue is normally over looked and pushed to the side. It is only right to inform people of the meaning of violence against women, the impact this problem has on women, and the advantages and disadvantages of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) that helps protect them.... [tags: human rights, rape, stds, ]

- According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BIS), workplace violence affects 1.7 million people each year. The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) reported 11,613 workplace homicide victims between 1992 and 2006. Averaging just under 800 homicides per year, the largest number of homicides in one year occurred in 1994, while the lowest number occurred in 2006 (CDC). This has become a serious concern and companies now have to take a stand to protect their employees as well as the organization.... [tags: Violence]